[547]Και γαρ θαυμ' ετετυκτο πελωριον, ουδε εῳκειΑνδρι γε σιτοφαγῳ, αλλα ῥιῳ ὑληεντι.
[547]Και γαρ θαυμ' ετετυκτο πελωριον, ουδε εῳκειΑνδρι γε σιτοφαγῳ, αλλα ῥιῳ ὑληεντι.
[547]Και γαρ θαυμ' ετετυκτο πελωριον, ουδε εῳκει
Ανδρι γε σιτοφαγῳ, αλλα ῥιῳ ὑληεντι.
Virgil says of the same person,
[548]Ipse arduus, altaque pulsat sidera.
[548]Ipse arduus, altaque pulsat sidera.
[548]Ipse arduus, altaque pulsat sidera.
As these buildings were oftentimes light-houses, and had in their upper story one round casement, Argolici clypeï, aut Phœbeæ lampadis instar, by which they afforded light in the night-season; the Greeks made this a characteristic of the people. They supposed this aperture to have been an eye, which was fiery, and glaring, and placed in the middle of their foreheads. Hence Callimachus describes them as a monstrous race:
[549]αινα Πελωρα,Πρηοσιν Οσσειοισιν εοικοτα· πασι δ' ὑπ' οφρυνΦαεα μουνογληνα σακει ισα τετραβοειῳ.
[549]αινα Πελωρα,Πρηοσιν Οσσειοισιν εοικοτα· πασι δ' ὑπ' οφρυνΦαεα μουνογληνα σακει ισα τετραβοειῳ.
[549]αινα Πελωρα,
Πρηοσιν Οσσειοισιν εοικοτα· πασι δ' ὑπ' οφρυν
Φαεα μουνογληνα σακει ισα τετραβοειῳ.
The Grecians have so confounded the Cyclopian Deity with his votaries, that it is difficult to speak precisely of either. They sometimes mention him as a single person; the same as Nilus of Egypt, who was esteemed the father of the Gods. At other times they introduce a plurality, whom they still represent as of the highest antiquity, and make the brethren of Cronus:[550]Κυκλωπες—ὁι αδελφοι ησαν του Κρονου, του πατρος του Διος.Proclus in Photius informs us, that, according to the antient mythology of the Auctores Cyclici, the giants with an hundred hands, and the Cyclopes, were the first born of the[551]Earth and Cœlus. But in these histories every degree of relation has been founded upon idle surmises: and is uniformly to be set aside. The Cyclopian Deity was[552]Ouranus, and the Cyclopians were his priests and votaries: some of whom had divine honours paid to them, and were esteemed as Gods. Upon the Isthmus of Corinth was an antient temple; which seems to have been little more than aταφοςor high altar, where offerings were made to the Cyclopian[553]Deities. People of this family settled upon the southern coast of Sicily at Camarina; which some have supposed to have been the Hupereia of Homer, where the Pheacians once resided.
[554]Ὁι πριν μεν ποτ' εναιον εν ευρυχορῳ Ὑπερειᾳ,Αγχου Κυκλωπων ανδρων ὑπερηνορεοντων.
[554]Ὁι πριν μεν ποτ' εναιον εν ευρυχορῳ Ὑπερειᾳ,Αγχου Κυκλωπων ανδρων ὑπερηνορεοντων.
[554]Ὁι πριν μεν ποτ' εναιον εν ευρυχορῳ Ὑπερειᾳ,
Αγχου Κυκλωπων ανδρων ὑπερηνορεοντων.
But there is no reason to think, that the city Hupereia was in Sicily; or that the Pheacians came from that country. The notion arose from a common mistake. All the Greek and Roman Poets, and even Strabo, with other respectable writers, have taken it for granted, that the Cyclopians of Homer were near Ætna in Sicily. Others except to their being near Ætna; and insist, that they were in the vicinity of Eryx upon the opposite part of the island. But Homer does not once mention the island during his whole account of the Cyclopes: nor does Ulysses arrive in Sicily, till after many subsequent adventures. That there were Cyclopians near Ætna is certain: but those mentioned by Homer were of another country, and are represented as natives of the continent though his account is very indeterminate and obscure. There were probably people of this family in many parts of Sicily, especially about the city Camarina. They seem to have been of the Anakim race, and worshippers of the Sun. Hence they were styled Camarin, and their chief city Camarina, which was so called from a city of the same name in[555]Chaldea, the Ur of the Scriptures. Polyphemus is mentioned as a musician and a shepherd; but of a savage and brutal disposition: which character arose from the cruel rites practised by the Cyclopians. According to[556]Bacchylides it was said, that Galatus, Illyrius, and Celtus were the sons of Polyphemus. By this was certainly signified, that the Galatæ, Illyrii, and Celtæ, were of Cyclopian original, and of the Anakim race; all equally Amonians. Lycophron mentions the cave of this personage, by which was meant an antient temple; and he calls it[557]μονογληνου στεγας Χαρωνος:the habitation of Charon, a personage with one eye. But here, as I have often observed, the place is mistaken for a person; the temple for the Deity. Charon was the very place; the antient temple of the Sun. It was therefore styled Char-On from the God, who was there worshipped; and after the Egyptian custom an eye was engraved over its portal. These temples were sometimes called Charis,[558]Χαρις; which is a compound of Char-Is, and signifies a prutaneion, or place sacred to Hephastus. As the rites of fire were once almost universally practised, there were many places of this name, especially in[559]Parthia, Babylonia, and Phrygia. The Grecians rendered Char-Is byΧαρις, a term in their own language, which signified grace and elegance. And nothing witnesses their attachment to antient terms more than their continually introducing them, though they were strangers to their true meaning. The Arimaspians were Hyperborean Cyclopians; and had temples named Charis, or Charisia, in the top of which were preserved a perpetual fire. They were of the same family as those of[560]Sicily, and had the same rites; and particularly worshipped the Ophite Deity under the name of[561]Opis. Aristeas Proconnesius wrote their history; and among other things mentioned that they had but one eye, which was placed in their graceful forehead.
[562]Οφθαλμον δ' ἑν' ἑκαστος εχει χαριεντι μετωπῳ.
[562]Οφθαλμον δ' ἑν' ἑκαστος εχει χαριεντι μετωπῳ.
[562]Οφθαλμον δ' ἑν' ἑκαστος εχει χαριεντι μετωπῳ.
How could the front of a Cyclopian, one of the most hideous monsters that ever poetic fancy framed, be styled graceful? The whole is a mistake of terms: and what this writer had misapplied, related to Charis, a tower; and the eye was the casement in the top of the edifice, where a light, and fire were kept up. What confirmed the mistake was the representation of an eye, which, as I have mentioned, was often engraved over the entrance of these temples. The chief Deity of Egypt was frequently represented under the symbol of an eye,[563]and a sceptre. I have observed, that Orion was supposed to have had three fathers, merely because a tower, sacred to him in Sicily, and called Tor-Pator, was altered toΤριπατωρ; which change seemed to countenance such an opinion. The Cyclopians were of the same region in that island; and their towers had undoubtedly the same name: for the Cyclopians were styled[564]Τριτοπατερες, and were supposed to have been three in number. Some such mistake was made about the towers styled Charis: whence the Grecians formed their notion of the Graces. As Charis was a tower sacred to fire; some of the Poets have supposed a nymph of that name, who was beloved by Vulcan. Homer speaks of her as his wife:[565]Χαρις—Καλη, ἡν ωπυιε περικλυτος Αμφιγυνεις.But Nonnus makes her his mistress; and says, that he turned her out of doors for her jealousy.
[566]Εκ δε δομων εδιωκε Χαριν ζηλημονα νυμφην.
[566]Εκ δε δομων εδιωκε Χαριν ζηλημονα νυμφην.
[566]Εκ δε δομων εδιωκε Χαριν ζηλημονα νυμφην.
The Graces were said to be related to the Sun who was in reality the same as Vulcan. The Sun among the people of the east was called Hares, and with a guttural, Chares: and his temple was styled Tor-Chares. But as Tor-Pator was changed to Tripator; so Tor-Chares was rendered Trichares, which the Greeks expressedΤριχαρις; and from thence formed a notion of three Graces. Cicero says, that they were the daughters of night, and Erebus: but Antimachus, more agreeably to this etymology, maintained, that they were the offspring of the Sun and light;[567]Αιγλης και Ἡλιου θυγατερας.These seeming contradictions are not difficult to be reconciled.
The Amonians, wherever they settled, were celebrated for their superiority in science; and particularly for their skill in building. Of this family were Trophonius, and his brother Agamedes, who are represented as very great in the profession. They were truly wonderful, says[568]Pausanias, for the temples, which they erected to the Gods; and for the stately edifices, which they built for men. They were the architects, who contrived the temple of Apollo at Delphi, and the treasury constructed to Urius. They were, I make no doubt, some of those, who were styled Cyclopians; as the people under this appellation were far the most eminent in this way. When the Sibyl in Virgil shews Æneas the place of torment in the shades below, and leads him through many melancholy recesses, we find that the whole was separated from the regions of bliss by a wall built by the Cyclopians. The Sibyl accordingly at their exit tells him,
[569]Cyclopum educta caminisMœnia conspicio.
[569]Cyclopum educta caminisMœnia conspicio.
[569]Cyclopum educta caminis
Mœnia conspicio.
From hence we find that they were the reputed builders of the infernal mansions; which notion arose from the real buildings, which they erected. For all the ideas of the antients about the infernal regions, and the torments of hell, were taken from the temples in each country; and from the rites and inquisition practised in them. But the Cyclopians were not merely imaginary operators. They founded several cities in Greece; and constructed many temples to the Gods, which were of old in high repute. They were so much esteemed for their skill, that, as the Scholiast upon Statius observes, every thing great and noble was looked upon as Cyclopian:[570]quicquid magnitudine suâ nobile est, Cyclopum manu dicitur fabricatum. Nor was this a fiction, as may be surmised; for they were in great measure the real architects. And if, in the room of those portentous beings the Cyclopes,Κυκλωπες, we substitute a colony of people called Cyclopians, we shall find the whole to be true, which is attributed to them; and a new field of history will be opened, that was before unknown. They were, undoubtedly, a part of the people styled Academians, who resided in Attica; where they founded the Academia, and Ceramicus, and introduced human sacrifices. Hence we are informed, that the Athenians, in the time of a plague, sacrificed three virgin daughters of Hyacinthus at the tomb Geræstus, the[571]Cyclops. But Geræstus was not a person, but a place.Γεραιστοςis a small variation for Ker-Astus; and signifies the temple of Astus the God of fire. It was certainly the antient name of the place where these sacrifices were exhibited: and the Taphos was a Cyclopian altar, upon which they were performed. The Cyclopians are said to have built the antient city Mycene, which Hercules in Seneca threatens to ruin.
——[572]quid moror? majus mihiBellum Mycenis restat, ut CyclopeaEversa manibus mœnia nostris concidant.
——[572]quid moror? majus mihiBellum Mycenis restat, ut CyclopeaEversa manibus mœnia nostris concidant.
——[572]quid moror? majus mihi
Bellum Mycenis restat, ut Cyclopea
Eversa manibus mœnia nostris concidant.
Nonnus speaks of the city in the same light:
[573]Στεμματι τειχιοεντι περιζωσθεντα Μυκηνη,Κυκλωπων κανονεσσι.
[573]Στεμματι τειχιοεντι περιζωσθεντα Μυκηνη,Κυκλωπων κανονεσσι.
[573]Στεμματι τειχιοεντι περιζωσθεντα Μυκηνη,
Κυκλωπων κανονεσσι.
The gate of the city, and the chief tower were particularly ascribed to them:[574]Κυκλωπων δε και ταυτα εργα ειναι λεγουσιν.These too are represented as the work of the Cyclopians. They likewise built Argos; which is mentioned by Thyestes in Seneca as a wonderful performance.
[575]Cyclopum sacrasTurres, labore majus humano decus.
[575]Cyclopum sacrasTurres, labore majus humano decus.
[575]Cyclopum sacras
Turres, labore majus humano decus.
All these poetical histories were founded in original truths. Some of them built Hermione, one of the most antient cities in Greece. The tradition was, that it was built by[576]Hermion the son of Europs, or Europis, a descendant of Phoroneus, and Niobe; and was inhabited by Dorians, who came from Argos: in which history is more than at first appears. The city stood near a stagnant lake, and a deep cavern; where was supposed to be the most compendious passage to the shades below:[577]την εις ἁδου καταβασιν συντομον.The lake was called the pool of Acherusia; near to which and the yawning cavern the Cyclopians chose to take up their habitation. They are said to have built[578]Tiryns; the walls of which were esteemed no less a wonder than the[579]pyramids of Egypt. They must have resided at Nauplia in Argolis; a place in situation not unlike Hermione above-mentioned. Near this city were caverns in the earth, and subterraneous passages, consisting of[580]labyrinths cut in the rock, like the syringes in Upper Egypt, and the maze at the lake Mæris: and these too were reputed the work of Cyclopians. Pausanias thinks very truly, that the Nauplians were from Egypt.[581]Ησαν δε ὁι Ναυπλιεις, εμοι δοκειν, Αιγυπτιοι τα παλαιοτερα.The Nauplians seem to me to have been a colony from Egypt in the more early times. He supposes that they were some of those emigrants, who came over with Danaüs. The nature of the works, which the Cyclopians executed, and the lake, which they named Acherusia, shew plainly the part of the world from whence they came. The next city to Nauplia was Trœzen, where Orus was said to have once reigned, from whom the country was called Oraia: but Pausanias very justly thinks, that it was an Egyptian history; and that the region was denominated from[582]Orus of Egypt, whose worship undoubtedly had been here introduced. So that every circumstance witnesses the country, from whence the Cyclopians came. Hence when[583]Euripides speaks of the walls of antient Mycene, as built by the Cyclopians after the Phenician rule and method: the Phenicians alluded to were theΦοινικεςof Egypt, to which country they are primarily to be referred. Those who built Tiryns are represented as seven in number; and the whole is described by Strabo in the following manner.[584]Τιρυνθι ὁρμητηριῳ χρησασθαι δοκει Προιτος, και τειχισαι δια Κυκλωπων· ὁυς ἑπτα μεν ειναι, καλεισθαι δε Γαστεροχειρας, τρεφομενους εκ της τεχνης.Prœtus seems to have been the first who made use of Tiryns as an harbour; which place he walled round by the assistance of the Cyclopians. They were seven in number, styled Gastrocheirs; and lived by their labour.Hesychius in some degree reverses this strange name, and says, that they were calledΕγχειρογαστερες. The Grecians continually mistook places for persons, as I have shewn. These seven Cyclopes were, I make no doubt, seven Cyclopian towers built by the people, of whom I have been treating. Some of them stood towards the harbour to afford light to ships, when they approached in the night. They were sacred to Aster, or[585]Astarte; and styled Astro-caer, and Caer-Aster; out of which the Greeks formedΓαστροχειρ, andΕγχειρογαστηρ; a strange medley made up of hands, and bellies. Strabo in particular having converted these building's into so many masons, adds,[586]Γαστεροχειρας, τρεφομενους εκ της τεχνης.They were honest bellyhanded men, industrious people, who got their livelihood by their art. These towers were erected likewise for Purait, or Puratheia, where the rites of fire were performed: but Purait, or Puraitus, the Greeks changed toΠροιτος; and gave out that the towers were built for[587]Prœtus, whom they made a king of that country.
I imagine, that not only the common idea of the Cyclopians was taken from towers and edifices; but that the termΚυκλωψ, andΚυκλωπις, Cuclops, and Cuclopis, signified a building or temple; and from thence the people had their name. They were of the same family as the Cadmians, and Phœnices; and as the Hivites, or Ophites who came from Egypt, and settled near Libanus and Baal Hermon, upon the confines of Canaan. They worshipped the Sun under the symbol of a serpent: hence they were styled in different parts, where they in time settled, Europians, Oropians, Anopians, Inopians, Asopians, Elopians; all which names relate to the worship of the Pytho Ops, or Opis. What may be the precise etymology of the termΚυκλωψ, Cuclops, I cannot presume to determine. Cuclops, as a personage, was said to have been the son of[588]Ouranus and the earth: which Ouranus among the Amonians was often styled Cœl, or Cœlus; and was worshipped under the forementioned emblem of a serpent. Hence the temple of the Deity may have been originally called Cu-Cœl-Ops, Domus Cœli Pythonis; and the priests and people Cucelopians. But whatever may have been the purport of the name, the history of these personages is sufficiently determinate.
There was a place in Thrace called[589]Cuclops, where some of the Cyclopian race had settled; for many of the Amonians came hither. Hence Thrace seems at one time to have been the seat of science: and the Athenians acknowledged, that they borrowed largely from them. The natives were very famous; particularly the Pierians for their music, the Peonians for pharmacy, and the Edonians for their rites and worship. Those, who went under the name of Cyclopes, probably introduced architecture; for which art they seem to have been every where noted. There was a fountain in these parts, of which Aristotle takes notice, as of a wonderful nature.[590]Εν δε Κυκλωψι τοις Θραξι κρηνιδιον εστιν, ὑδωρ εχων, ὁ τῃ μεν οψει καθαρον, και διαφανες, και τοις αλλοις ὁμοιον· ὁταν δε πιῃ τι ζωον εξ αυτου, παραχρημα διαφθειρεται.In the region of the Cyclopians of Thrace is a fountain, clear to the eye, and pure, and in no wise differing from common water: of which, however, if an animal drinks, it is immediately poisoned. There is another account given by Theopompus; who speaks of the people by the name of the Chropes, which is a contraction for Charopes. He says, that even going into the water was fatal.[591]Θεοπομπος ἱστορει κρηνην εν Χρωψι της Θρακης, εξ ἡς τους λουσαμενους παραχρημα μεταλλασσειν.Theopompus mentions a fountain among the Charopes of Thrace, in which, if a person attempts to bathe, he immediately loses his life.I have taken notice of this history, because we find, that the persons who are called[592]Cuclopes by one writer, are styled Char-opes by another, and very justly: for the terms are nearly of the same purport. The Charopes were denominated from a temple, and place called Char-Ops, or Char-Opis, locus Dei Pythonis: and the Cyclopes were, as I have before supposed, denominated from Cu-Coel-Ops, or Cu-Coel-Opis, the temple of the same Deity. They were both equally named from the Ophite God, the great object of their adoration, and from the temple where he was worshipped.
The head of Medusa in Argolis is said to have been the work of the[593]Cyclopians. This seems to have been an antient hieroglyphical representation upon the temple of Caphisus. It was usual with the Egyptians, and other Amonians, to describe, upon the Architrave of their temples, some emblem of the Deity, who there presided. This representation was often an eagle, or vulture; a wolf, or a lion; also an heart, or an eye. The last, as I have shewn, was common to the temples of[594]Osiris, and was intended to signify the superintendency of Providence, from whom nothing was hid. Among others the serpent was esteemed a most salutary emblem: and they made use of it to signify superior skill and knowledge. A beautiful female countenance, surrounded with an assemblage of serpents, was made to denote divine wisdom, which they styled Meed, and Meet, theΜητιςof the Greeks. Under this characteristic they represented an heavenly personage, and joined her with Eros, or divine love: and by these two they supposed that the present mundane system was produced. Orpheus speaks of this Deity in the masculine gender:
[595]Και Μητις, πρωτος γενετωρ, και Ερως πολυτερπης.
[595]Και Μητις, πρωτος γενετωρ, και Ερως πολυτερπης.
[595]Και Μητις, πρωτος γενετωρ, και Ερως πολυτερπης.
On this account many antient temples were ornamented with this curious hieroglyphic: and among others the temple of Caphisus[596]in Argolis. Caphisus is a compound of Caph-Isis, which signifies Petra Isidis, and relates to the same Deity as Metis. For we must not regard sexes, nor difference of appellations, when we treat of antient Deities.
[597]Αρσην μεν και θηλυς εφυς, πολεματοκε Μητι.[598]Παντοφυης, γενετωρ παντων, πολυωνυμε Δαιμον.
[597]Αρσην μεν και θηλυς εφυς, πολεματοκε Μητι.[598]Παντοφυης, γενετωρ παντων, πολυωνυμε Δαιμον.
[597]Αρσην μεν και θηλυς εφυς, πολεματοκε Μητι.
[598]Παντοφυης, γενετωρ παντων, πολυωνυμε Δαιμον.
I have taken notice that the Cyclopians of Thrace were styled Charopes; which name they must have received from their rites, and place of worship. Char-Opis signifies the temple of the Python, or serpent: and we find that it was situated near a poisonous pool. It was sacred to the Sun: and there were many temples of this name in[599]Egypt, and other countries. The Sun was called Arez; and the lion, which was an emblem of the Sun, had the same denomination: and there is reason to think, that the device upon Charopian temples was sometimes a lion. Homer, undoubtedly, had seen the fierce figure of this animal upon some sacred portal in Egypt; to which he often alludes, when he speaks of a Charopian lion.
[600]Αρκτοιτ', αγροτεροι τε Συες, χαροποι τε Λεοντες.
[600]Αρκτοιτ', αγροτεροι τε Συες, χαροποι τε Λεοντες.
[600]Αρκτοιτ', αγροτεροι τε Συες, χαροποι τε Λεοντες.
Plate IXPl. IX.MEDUSA.From a Gem in the Collection of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough
The devices upon temples were often esteemed as talismans, and supposed to have an hidden and salutary influence, by which the building was preserved. In the temple of Minerva, at Tegea, was some sculpture of Medusa, which the Goddess was said to have given,[601]αναλωτον ες τον παντα κρονον ειναι (την πολιν);to preserve the city from ever being taken in war. It was probably from this opinion, that the[602]Athenians had the head of Medusa represented upon the walls of their acropolis: and it was the insigne of many cities, as we may find from antient coins. The notion of the Cyclopes framing the thunder and lightning for Jupiter arose chiefly from the Cyclopians engraving hieroglyphics of this sort upon the temples of the Deity. Hence they were represented as persons,
[603]Ὁι Ζηνι βροντην τ' εδοσαν, τευξαν τε κεραυνον.
[603]Ὁι Ζηνι βροντην τ' εδοσαν, τευξαν τε κεραυνον.
[603]Ὁι Ζηνι βροντην τ' εδοσαν, τευξαν τε κεραυνον.
The Poets considered them merely in the capacity of blacksmiths, and condemned them to the anvil. This arose from the chief Cyclopian Deity being called Acmon, and Pyracmon. He was worshipped under the former title in Phrygia; where was a city and district called Acmonia, mentioned by Alexander[604]Polyhistor. The Amazonians paid the like reverence: and there was a sacred grove called Acmonium upon the[605]Thermodon, which was held in great repute. He was by some looked upon as the offspring of heaven; by others worshipped as Ouranus, and Cœlus, the heaven itself; and Acmonides was supposed to have been his[606]son, whom some of the mythologists made the ruling spirit of the earth. Hence Simmias Rhodius introduces Divine Love displaying his influence, and saying, that he produced Acmonides, that mighty monarch of the earth, and at the same time founded the sea.[607]Λευσσε με τον Γας τε βαρυστερνου Ανακτ'Ακμονιδαν, ταν ἁλα θ' ἑδρασαντα.
Acmon seems to have been worshipped of old at Tiryns, that antient city of Greece, whose towers were said to have been built by the Cyclopians. For Acmon was the Cyclopian Deity; and is represented by Callimachus as the tutelary God of the place, though the passage has been otherwise interpreted.
[608]Τοιος γαρ αει Τιρυνθιος ΑκμωνἙστηκε προ πυλεων.
[608]Τοιος γαρ αει Τιρυνθιος ΑκμωνἙστηκε προ πυλεων.
[608]Τοιος γαρ αει Τιρυνθιος Ακμων
Ἑστηκε προ πυλεων.
The term has commonly been looked upon as an adjective; and the passage has been rendered Talis Tirynthius indefessus, which is scarce sense. Callimachus was very knowing in mythology, and is here speaking of the Cyclopian God Acmon, whom he makes theθεος προπυλαιος, or guardian Deity of the place. It was the same God, that was afterwards called Hercules, and particularly styled Tirynthius, to whom Callimachus here alludes, under a more antient name.
As the Cyclopians were great artists, they probably were famous for works in brass, and iron: and that circumstance in their history may have been founded in truth. The Idæi Dactyli were Cyclopians: and they are said to have first forged metals, and to have reduced them to common[609]use; the knowledge of which art they obtained from the fusion of minerals at the burning of mount[610]Ida. Whether this was an eruption of fire from the internal part of the mountain, or only a fire kindled among the forests, which crowned its summit, cannot be determined. It was an event of antient date; and admitted, as a remarkable epocha, in the most early series of chronology. From this event the Curetes, and Corybantes, who were the same as the[611]Idæi Dactyli, are supposed to have learned the mystery of fusing and forging metals. From them it was propagated to many countries westward, particularly to the Pangæan mountains, and the region Curetis, where the Cyclopians dwelt in Thrace: also to the region Trinacia and Leontina, near Ætna, which they occupied in Sicily.
Thus have I endeavoured to shew the true history[612]and antiquity of this people: and we may learn from their works,[613]that there was a time, when they were held in high estimation. They were denominated from their worship: and their chief Deity among other titles was styled Acmon, and Pyracmon. They seem to have been great in many sciences: but the term Acmon signifying among the Greeks an anvil, the Poets have limited them to one base department, and considered them as so many blacksmiths. And as they resided near Ætna, they have made the burning mountain their forge:
[614]Ferrum exercebant vasto Cyclopes in antro,Brontesque, Steropesque, et nudus membra Pyracmon.
[614]Ferrum exercebant vasto Cyclopes in antro,Brontesque, Steropesque, et nudus membra Pyracmon.
[614]Ferrum exercebant vasto Cyclopes in antro,
Brontesque, Steropesque, et nudus membra Pyracmon.
Plate XPl. X
I must continually put the reader in mind how common it was among the Greeks, not only out of the titles of the Deities, but out of the names of towers, and other edifices, to form personages, and then to invent histories to support what they had done. When they had created a number of such ideal beings, they tried to find out some relation: and thence proceeded to determine the parentage, and filiation of each, just as fancy directed. Some colonies from Egypt, and Canaan, settled in Thrace; as appears from numberless memorials. The parts which they occupied were upon the Hebrus, about Edonia, Sithonia, and Mount Hæmus. They also held Pieria, and Peonia, and all the sea coast region. It was their custom, as I have before mentioned, in all their settlements to form puratheia; and to introduce the rites of fire, and worship of the Sun. Upon the coast, of which I have been speaking, a temple of this sort was founded, which is called Torone. The name is a compound of Tor-On, as I have before taken notice. The words purathus, and puratheia, were, in the language of Egypt, Pur-Ath, and Por-Ait, formed from two titles of the God of fire. Out of one of these the Grecians made a personage, which they expressedΠροιτος, Prœtus, whose daughters, or rather priestesses, were the Prœtides. And as they followed the Egyptian rites, and held a Cow sacred, they were, in consequence of it, supposed to have been turned into[615]cows; just as the priestesses of Hippa were said to have been changed into mares; the Œnotropæ and Peleiadæ into pigeons. Proteus of Egypt, whom Menelaus was supposed to have consulted about his passage homeward, was a tower of this sort with a purait. It was an edifice, where both priests and pilots resided to give information; and where a light was continually burning to direct the ships in the night. The tower of Torone likewise was a Pharos, and therefore styled by Lycophronφλεγραια Τορωνη, the flaming Torone. The country about it was, in like manner, called[616]Φλεγρα, Phlegra, both from these flaming Towers, and from the worship there introduced. There seems to have been a fire-tower in this region named Proteus; for, according to the antient accounts, Proteus is mentioned as having resided in these parts, and is said to have been married to Torone. He is accordingly styled by the Poet,
[617]φλεγραιας ποσιςΣτυγνος Τορωνης, ᾡ γελως απεχθεται,Και δακρυ.
[617]φλεγραιας ποσιςΣτυγνος Τορωνης, ᾡ γελως απεχθεται,Και δακρυ.
[617]φλεγραιας ποσις
Στυγνος Τορωνης, ᾡ γελως απεχθεται,
Και δακρυ.
The epithetστυγνος, gloomy, and sad, implies a bad character, which arose from the cruel rites practised in these places. In all these temples they made it a rule to sacrifice strangers, whom fortune brought in their way. Torone stood near[618]Pallene, which was styled[619]Γηγενων τροφος,the nurse of the earth-born, or giant brood. Under this character both the sons of Chus, and the Anakim of Canaan are included. Lycophron takes off from Proteus the imputation of being accessary to the vile practices, for which the place was notorious; and makes only his sons guilty of murdering strangers. He says, that their father left them out of disgust,
[620]Τεκνων αλυξας τας ξενοκτονας παλας.
[620]Τεκνων αλυξας τας ξενοκτονας παλας.
[620]Τεκνων αλυξας τας ξενοκτονας παλας.
In this he alludes to a custom, of which I shall take notice hereafter. According to Eustathius, the notion was, that Proteus fled by a subterraneous passage to Egypt, in company with his daughter Eidothea.[621]Αποκατεστη εις Φαρον μετα της θυγατρος Ειδοθεας.He went, it seems, from one Pharos to another; from Pallene to the mouth of the Nile. The Pharos of Egypt was both a watch-tower, and a temple, where people went to inquire about the success of their voyage; and to obtain the assistance of pilots. Proteus was an Egyptian title of the Deity, under which he was worshipped, both in the Pharos, and at[622]Memphis. He was the same as Osiris, and Canobus: and particularly the God of mariners, who confined his department to the[623]sea. From hence, I think, we may unravel the mystery about the pilot of Menelaus, who is said to have been named Canobus, and to have given name to the principal seaport in Egypt. The priests of the country laughed at the idle[624]story; and they had good reason: for the place was far prior to the people spoken of, and the name not of Grecian original. It is observable, that Stephanus of Byzantium gives the pilot another name, calling him, instead of Canobus,Φαρος, Pharus. His words areΦαρος ὁ Πρωρευς Μεναλαου, which are scarce sense. I make no doubt, from the history of Proteus above, but that in the original, whence Stephanus copied, or at least whence the story was first taken, the reading wasΦαρος ὁ Πρωτευς Μενελαου; that is, the Proteus of Menelaus, so celebrated by Homer, who is represented, as so wise, and so experienced in navigation, whom they esteemed a great prophet, and a Deity of the sea, was nothing else but a Pharos. In other words, it was a temple of Proteus upon the Canobic branch of the Nile, to which the Poet makes Menelaus have recourse. Such was the original history: butΠρωτευς Μενελαουhas been changed toπρωρευς; and the God Canobus turned into a Grecian pilot. As these were Ophite temples, a story has been added about this person having been stung by a serpent.[625]Πρωρευς εν τῃ νησῳ δηχθεις ὑπο οφεως εταφη.This Pilot was bitten by a serpent, and buried in the island. Conformable to my opinion is the account given by Tzetzes, who says, that Proteus resided in the[626]Pharos: by which is signified, that he was the Deity of the place. He is represented in the Orphic poetry as the first-born of the world, the chief God of the sea, and at the same time a mighty[627]prophet.
The history then of Menelaus in Egypt, if such a person ever existed, amounts to this. In a state of uncertainty he applied to a temple near Canobus, which was sacred to Proteus. This was one title out of many, by which the chief Deity of the country was worshipped, and was equivalent to On, Orus, Osiris, and Canobus. From this place Menelaus obtained proper advice, by which he directed his voyage. Hence some say, that he hadΦροντις, Phrontis, for his pilot.[628]Κυβερνητης αριστος Μενελαου ὁ Φροντις, ὑιος Ονητορος.Menelaus had an excellent pilot, one Phrontis, the son of Onetor.This, I think, confirms all that I have been saying: for what is Phrontis, but advice and experience? and what is Onetor, but the Pharos, from whence it was obtained? Onetor is the same as Torone,Τορωνη, only reversed. They were both temples of Proteus, the same as On, and Orus: bothΦλεγραιαι, by which is meant temples of fire, or light-houses. Hence we may be pretty certain, that the three pilots, Canobus, Phrontis, Pharos, together with Onetor, were only poetical personages: and that the terms properly related to towers, and sanctuaries, which were of Egyptian original.
These places were courts of justice, where the priests seem to have practised a strict inquisition; and where pains and penalties were very severe. The notion of the Furies was taken from these temples: for the term Furia is from Ph'ur, ignis, and signifies a priest of fire. It was on account of the cruelties here practised, that most of the antient judges are represented as inexorable; and are therefore made judges in hell. Of what nature their department was esteemed may be learned from Virgil,